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Years of Dedication and Passion for Blogging, Recipes and Stolen Photos

Watermark everything or someone will steal your photo's and recipes!

It has come to my attention that there are many sites that just try to make a living off of other peoples blogs. It brings a whole new realization on how far we are from being united or having any respect for one another in the blogging world. Your not safe, not at all.
Asking permission, giving a heads up, finding someone online that will promote you, first would be the logical approach. The unfortunate reality is that when you go to google images and type in your blog or name it will show you just how many people have taken your hard work, recipes and call it their own. In my case I even found my son and cat!
There are some way to protect yourself, naive as I was I didn't watermark my photo's.
However I have a friend that watermarked her photo and they erased it and wrote Mama Mia in it's place! So there are even worse offenders than what I have encountered.

So this has been a turmoil of a week. Wondering if I should continue blogging. Being violated by 14 different webpages, some I couldn't read in different languages, taking my photo's, reposting my cat, son and recipes as their own entries is just ridiculous. Again try these simple steps:
1. go to google chrome
2. click images
3. click on your photo
4. off to the side it will say search images click that, once that comes up all the websites that took the photo will show your photo a either stolen recipe or a new one and they just stold the photo.
5. Go into filters where it allows you to put the copy right and year.

You can see this on my timeline on what this week was like on FACEBOOK.

Google has a web form to fill out to turn them in. https://www.google.com/webmasters/tools/dmca-notice?pli=1
Fill out each post they have taken from you individually.
My other suggestion is to invest into a photoshop.
If you have photoshop just hit the letter T on the keyboard where you want to place your name, logo etc and add your watermark, it will let you start to type your name sake to protect that photo by adding whatever typing phrase you like.
I have spent endless hours to find many of my photo's on other websites claiming their own.
If you would like to see if any of your photo's are being compromised download google chrome, go to images, type in you website name and images... When you click on your image it will show off to the right some image search, click on more images and it will show you who else have stolen you images.
Scary for sure, insulting and down right ridiculous!

I am not the first or last to go through this, however it is quite alarming to see when they claim your own family as their own as I have. Be sure to use the web page, contact your server and certainly do what you can to the owner to show them copy right laws.

This is from the WEBTOOL:
Report alleged copyright infringement: Web Search
It is our policy to respond to notices of alleged infringement that comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the text of which can be found at the U.S. Copyright Office Web Site, http://www.copyright.gov/) and other applicable intellectual property laws. Our response may include removing or disabling access to material claimed to be the subject of infringing activity and/or terminating subscribers. If we remove or disable access in response to such a notice, we may notify the owner or administrator of the affected site or content so that he or she can make a counter notification. It is also our policy to document all notices of alleged infringement on which we act, including by sending a copy of the notice to one or more third parties or making it available to the public. You can see an example of such a publication at http://www.chillingeffects.org/dmca512/notice.cgi?NoticeID=861.Infringement Notification
To file a notice of infringement with us, you may use the form provided below (you may also use fax or mail, although processing will be slower).

Report alleged copyright infringement: Web Search

It is our policy to respond to notices of alleged infringement that comply with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (the text of which can be found at the U.S. Copyright Office Web Site, http://www.copyright.gov/) and other applicable intellectual property laws. Our response may include removing or disabling access to material claimed to be the subject of infringing activity and/or terminating subscribers. If we remove or disable access in response to such a notice, we may notify the owner or administrator of the affected site or content so that he or she can make a counter notification. It is also our policy to document all notices of alleged infringement on which we act, including by sending a copy of the notice to one or more third parties or making it available to the public. You can see an example of such a publication at http://www.chillingeffects.org/dmca512/notice.cgi?NoticeID=861.Infringement Notification
To file a notice of infringement with us, you may use the form provided below (you may also use fax or mail, although processing will be slower).
IMPORTANT: Misrepresentations made in your notice regarding whether material or activity is infringing may expose you to liability for damages (including costs and attorneys' fees). Courts have found that you must consider copyright defenses, limitations or exceptions before sending a notice. In one case involving online content, a company paid more than $100,000 in costs and attorneys fees after targeting content protected by the U.S. fair use doctrine. Accordingly, if you are not sure whether material available online infringes your copyright, we suggest that you first contact an attorney.

I have had many friends go through this and never caught anyone until now doing this to me. If you need any advice or want more information, email me. I will be happy to help you.

Hi, so sorry to hear about this disgusting thief go round stealing your hard work. Not surprising if they remove the watermark and claim as their own. There are all kind of people out there.

But it's a big shock they took your son and cat photos and claim as theirs??? OMG, this people is really really mentally sick.

But any thing posted online somehow it's not safe. Even you put right click disable, they are still able to steal with simple tactics. What more now they comes out with screen shot, another way of stealing.

Sometimes it's really heart sick and annoying. But I hope you will continue blogging and share your wonderful recipes with us.

Take care and God bless you and all at home. With hugs and love to you. Have a nice day.

I'm really sorry for this regrettable drawback. Unfortunately there are many people who take advantage of others' work to make things easy for themselves. I hope your recourse is successful and who took advantage of your work pay for this. Bye dear, have a good day

Dang, I just wrote a long response but got an error instead of it posting. Let's try this again ...

This issue was just a conversation string on Facebook yesterday with another blogger. Someone posted her photo on their page, actually cropping her watermark out of it. Because they had removed so much of the shot, they had to blow it up, which degraded the picture, but since they were stealing anyhow, I suppose quality wasn't a priority for them.

I have seen photos/recipes of mine on LiveStrong and other sites, but the biggest/strangest offender was (http://lebcuisine.blogspot.com/). Not only have they posted one of my recipes, along with my photo, but my childhood MEMORY associated with the item!!

I can't even begin to imagine anyone posting a pic of someone else's child on their page!!

As for searching images, I usually just drag and drop into Google Image. I usually don't bother since it seems to be a losing battle, but every once in a while it gets under my skin and I go on the hunt.

Thanks for the heads up and yes, I know I should be doing this all along too. So sorry you had to go through this. I don't know what I can say to help, and I don't know how to discribe people that would do that!

@Chris Coyle: I understand that pinterest would be a place that you will be open for theft easily, most of the photo's however at least will link back to the original owner when you click on it and I accept ownership if I am posting there. I know it happens all the time I just found two more that I posted in 2010 in foreign language it looks like Japanese. I have sent several emails to some, they don't care to take it down. Google has been great to work with as they will investigate them most of the time if possible.I guess this is literally the price you pay for blogging. The family is the most insulting, my son guests posts all the time and most readers wouldn't know that, so I am sure that why he took that particular post. Thanks

To all my readers thanks for your kind words and response, it has been a very stressful week and situation, I am obsessed with finding out every photo stolen not linked back.

Hi Claudia, I so know what you mean. I have found 100's of sites that not only copied my photos but also copied my recipes word for word. I spent a good part of this year sending out legal letters to get most of them taken down. A laborious process but was well worth it. Especially the copied recipes. Google was having a hard time telling who was the original author of content.

Claudia, I so know what you mean! I've had hundreds of websites copy my photos as well as recipes word for word. I spend a good part of this year sending out legal notices, filling out Google requests, etc... To get the copies taken down. A very laborious process but well worth the effort. I ran into a problem when Google Panda came out and Google was thinking copied recipes where the original and my original content was the copy. Was a nightmare but got it all cleaned up know. You just have to stay on top of the copiers and send them letters. Most webmasters are pretty good about taking copied stuff down right away when they are called out about it. Persevere! :-)

Awe Claudia I am so sorry this happened to you. It's a scary world out there. I wasn't doing mine either. Then I realized those trix things were being stolen by everybody and their brother. I've reported almost 150 so far. Like I have time for that. It's crazy. I think it's good you are watermarking now. So am I. Unfortunately they still seem to find ways around it. We live in a crazy world. If you ever want to vent feel free to get in touch. I know how infuriating it is. Big hug! xx

I feel for you. Years of dedication and then you find that they use all your hard work! Watermaking seems the only solution to this. I don't have photoshop so I am looking into some other ways to watermarking.Take care, tanti baci.

Don't you dare stop blogging my friend! I would miss you TOO much. I'm sorry for the stolen photos...what is it with some people? I guess I better check, too...at least I've started watermarking. Thanks for all the good info.

Claudiua,first, I wanted to tell you...I love the photo of you, so lovely!

So sorry that this has happened to you; not sure if anyone stole my photos, or recipes, but I haven't checked into it. Like you mentioned, even if they're watermarked, they can still remove it and add their own, so what is one to do?

Not a nice thing, it's such a violation of your privacy of your own photos! I will look into this some more.Thanks for the 'heads up'

Dear Claudia, Thank you for the heads up. I will check this out. Please don't let them win don't stop blogging I would miss you. The friendships made are so beautiful. Please take care my friend. Catherine xoxo

Again to all of you... my deepest gratitude on your concern as you are all talented wonderful foodie friends and creative bloggers... thank you from the bottom of my heart for your continued support... please go to the google image link on Chrome and put your website name into the search engine then click on search image to the right... make sure it's not happening to you... xo Claudia

There are all kinds out there. The www is a scary place. You're so right in that putting a watermark on the photo will help protect you. I'm guilty of being able to do it but not taking the time to. If there is a photo I'm especially fond of, I will watermark it.

I'm so sorry this has happened to you, Claudia. Maybe 10 years ago I saw this sort of thing happening in the needlework and craft industry. It really sent the industry in a tailspin, because people were copying leaflets and sending them to their "closest" 1,000 or so friends. It decimated the industry. Fortunately, the way you work is very different from those in print media. I hope you'll have better luck with weathering this storm.

I'm Sorry to hear that.. I never checked if my photo get stolen or not, I think I should try to protect my blog content just like you did, but thank you so much for your advantageous tip, it's very helpful for me and another blogger and I'm happy and very proud to be your new follower

While having your work stolen is never good it is a side effect of the Internet I fear. It is so easy now to reach out across borders and cultures, to reach potentially thousands of people, and sadly some of them will take from others without giving credit.

Oh Claudia this is horrible to have this happen to you too! And the saddest part of all is that not only is this type of behavior dishonest to the max, but these people pose as such good, decent people. I've approached everyone that has stolen from me, but know that it will never stop. Thank you for giving all of us the heads up about this conning problem, for your Facebook message about someone who stole another photo of mine, and for your delicious recipes and super blog! Like Catherine stated above, it's the community of honest food bloggers that is the best thing about blogging . . . our friendships! Big hugs and kisses to you sweetie!Roz

Totally ridiculous! I can't even imagine using your cat and son photos too, what the heck. Makes me really made to hear about this. But don't stop blogging you are a wonderful blogger and recipe writer. Thanks for the tips on how to prevent it. I'm going to check on mine now.

I don't see that this has happened to me at least not yet but I'm sure I'm probably wrong.

For a while that was the issue with Pinterest but I think they've fixed that now. It does suck but look on the bright side, at least they like our photos enough to use them. I guess in some ways it's a compliment.

sorry to hear this thank you for letting us know I will try to check as well. I too find when the recipes are posted with little adjustments without giving credit it is really sad and makes me angry. don't get discouraged talk to you soon regards

I'm so sorry thsi has happened sweetie. Great tips though thank you for sharing, I actually found one of my photos for sale! I put my watermark everything now. thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things Hop my friend xo

WOW!! I tell you some people's kid! I copyright and watermark everything... Thank you so much for all the tips and info.. this is a great help to other bloggers. AND YES YOU ARE RIGHT... We should respect one another's work.. at least give the other person credit (which I always do!). Thank you so much for joining us in Thursdays Favorite Things Blog Hop! With His grace, wishing you peace and many blessings to you and yours... Carla

Very informative blog, not sure if I want to discover if I have been copied but I take on board everything you are saying here. TFS. Visiting from Katherine's Corner blog hop. Hope you don't decide not to blog anymore.

Hi. Thank you for posting this. I have tried what you said, and I cannot get a listing of who took things,or the filter to put copyright in. I'm not the most computer savvy person, but your instructions look easy. Any help would be appreciated.patrice@everydayruralty.com

Very crunchy lemony flavored biscotti one of our first cookies we bake every year a long time favorite....... Click here for the r...

About Me

My blog was created in 2009. When I first started blogging my main inspiration was keeping Mom's memory alive through her recipes she left behind. Cooking those recipes keeps her with us. My two grown sons and family members now have all the family traditional recipes in one place. This blog is dedicated to the memory ofMargaret Ann Fanelli Colenzo.